Were you rejected as an applicant by a rescue, or did you just not get the dog you wanted because someone else was ahead of you in line? Or did they blow you off? If it was the latter, some rescues are tiny -- one or two person volunteer operations -- and they sometimes have trouble keeping up with communication. They don't mean to be rude. They're just overwhelmed by the volume of work rescuing requires -- but if you keep politely nudging them, they'll eventually get to you.

Have you been in touch with North Louisiana GSR? They aren't that far from Tennessee. I'm not sure if they are still active, but you can email them and see: North Louisiana German Shepherd Rescue

In South Louisiana, we've always got German Shepherds in shelters. Our shelter in Baton Rouge had 50 purebred GSDs come through in 2012. We are having very good success finding them good homes though. I've helped a number of good adopters who had "special requests" (e.g., young, black-and tan, or sable) by keeping a list of approved applicants and wish lists, so that I could notify them when one that matches their dream-dog parameters arrives in the shelter -- and one nearly always does, if they are patient. They have to move fast once I notify them, though, as our shelter does not "hold" animals for interested adopters.

Given that it's often a 4-6 month wait on a list at good breeders for a puppy, being at least as patient with finding a rescued dog will help you find the perfect match.

I would need more information Packman, before knowing what course to recommend.

How many rescues did you contact and what type were they? All breed? GSD specific?

Did you reach out for more generalized information about the process? Reach out for specific information on a particular dog? Any applications turned in?

Did you specify a particular type of dog (say, high drive for schutzhund)? Specify a particular age (say, under the age of 6 months)?

Did you get to the point in the application process where your references were checked? A home visit done?

What was your travel radius from your home? How far away from your home were you willing to travel?

Were you openly uncomfortable with any policies or regulations? Agree to a home visit, etc.? I am a long time rescue person, with involvement in every aspect of it. But I also think that going with a rescue isn't always the right choice for everyone. It could be that your wants and needs are too specific for a rescue to fill in anything close to a reasonable amount of time. It could be that your expectations were too high or impractical. More information would help clarify.

It could be that you really do need to shift your search to a breeder. Or maybe some direction from knowledgeable rescue board members familiar with your region can point you in the right direction.

Whatever the outcome, it is a shame that you ended up feeling frustrated.
Sheilah

Thanks everyone for your post...I am going to give it another try and take up offers for help.

I kept my post vague because I didn't want to start getting into the specifics of things that happened publicly. I will say tho...after that really bazaar experience with the non 501, I am kind of leary. OK heres one thing...I don't want to give out personal information (application) to a total anonymous stranger I have no way of contacting other than by a website, unless I am sure it is a legit Rescue and I know I would be seriously considered.

Anyhow...I litterly spend a half hour to a hour every night (except when I'm not feeling well) looking at local GSD / Mal rescues (within about 100 miles) that I know of and pet finders.

__________________
Whoever said you can't buy love musta never owned a dog !

We've had that, rarely, where a person didn't want to give out their info and if you don't trust them, I understand but, we have people come to our home to adopt, so trust must be mutual, for starters.
And we aren't in the habit of saving dogs just to hand them to someone just because they say they are good owners.
We've had people tell us they wont give us info and I'm like, okay, that's fine but we can't give you a dog

If you're that private, then adopting from a rescue may not be for you, but resign yourself to adopting from a shelter, or a sketchy rescue who'd give their dogs to anyone, which means they aren't selective about the type dogs they take in, either (as a rule).
Or, of course, off craigslist.

msvette, thank you for your thoughts but this is why I kept my original post vague.

I was leary of posting about giving my personal information out but that was part of the bazaar experience I had and if you had read my post a little closer you might have understood that. I have no problem giving out personal info if I know who I am talking to and I have no problem with a home inspection either.

But the fact is, I gave personal info to someone who acted in a less than professional manner that I can't readily contact or locate and I don't like wondering where my info has ended up inthis day of ID theft.

I don't want to get into another cyber disagreement with you or anyone for that matter. So as we use to say in the Army...let's stay focused on the mission. That is...I am looking for someone with extensive rescue knowledge that will help me out, privately.

__________________
Whoever said you can't buy love musta never owned a dog !

I don't want to get into another cyber disagreement with you or anyone for that matter. So as we use to say in the Army...let's stay focused on the mission. That is...I am looking for someone with extensive rescue knowledge that will help me out, privately.

I don't have extensive rescue knowledge, am just getting started a little myself, but what I did was put my zip code into petfinder and found pet adoption groups by location. Picked some close to me and visited. I found it much easier to work with a group in this area who understand the whole small town acreage area I live in. My biggest suggestion is to get out there and meet people. It is so much harder to do over the internet where messages can be misunderstood and taken out of context.

Contact Jean like Diane suggested. She's in NYS but BDBH, the rescue she works with, pulls from many of the shelters in Kentucky (or at least used to) so she may know of many connections in your area. There are also many rescues in Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina but can't make any recommendations if we don't know what state you live in.

__________________

~The strength of one's opinion should not exceed their knowledge on the matter~

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